Wilderness.org - grazinghttp://wilderness.org/tags/grazing
enGrazing in Wildernesshttp://wilderness.org/resource/grazing-wilderness
<div class="field-group-format group_meta field-group-div group-meta speed-fast effect-none"><div class="field field-name-field-publication-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2010-09-17T00:00:00-04:00">Friday, September 17, 2010</span></div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>The Wilderness Act of 1964 established grazing guidelines in wilderness areas. Wilderness designation allows for grazing in most designated areas, and motorized vehicles can be used for resource protection when deemed necessary. Many wilderness bills allow ranchers to relinquish their grazing rights in exchange for private compensation. Grazing in Wilderness is a useful hand-out that helps explain to a diverse audience grazing guidelines in wilderness areas.</p>
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<tr class="odd"><td><span class="file"><img class="file-icon" alt="" title="application/pdf" src="/modules/file/icons/application-pdf.png" /> <a href="http://wilderness.org/sites/default/files/Grazing-in-Wilderness.pdf" type="application/pdf; length=145689">Grazing-in-Wilderness.pdf</a></span></td><td>142.27 KB</td> </tr>
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</div></div></div>Fri, 17 Sep 2010 04:00:00 +0000Jacquelyn Kirkland1863 at http://wilderness.orghttp://wilderness.org/resource/grazing-wilderness#commentsIdaho Court Decision on BLM domestic sheep grazinghttp://wilderness.org/resource/idaho-court-decision-blm-domestic-sheep-grazing
<div class="field-group-format group_meta field-group-div group-meta speed-fast effect-none"><div class="field field-name-field-publication-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2009-10-15T09:35:17-04:00">Thursday, October 15, 2009</span></div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>On&nbsp; October 14, 2009, Judge Lynn Winmill granted our motion to not allow grazing on one of the last remaining BLM domestic sheep grazing allotments in the Salmon River corridor due to domestic/bighorn sheep conflicts. The turnout date was supposed to be October 15, and this represents the first time the allotment has ever been closed since the 1930&rsquo;s. For the time being, this will effectively end all public lands domestic sheep grazing on public land in the main Salmon River corridor where the highest threat to bighorn sheep exists. We have been successful in closing grazing on adjacent Forest Service land, but had not, until now, been able to do so on BLM land. Although we typically do not venture into the grazing realm, this is part of our ongoing restoration efforts in the Hell&rsquo;s Canyon area.</p>
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<tr class="odd"><td><span class="file"><img class="file-icon" alt="" title="application/pdf" src="/modules/file/icons/application-pdf.png" /> <a href="http://wilderness.org/sites/default/files/legacy/Idaho-decision.pdf" type="application/pdf; length=53515">Idaho-decision.pdf</a></span></td><td>52.26 KB</td> </tr>
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</div></div></div>Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:35:17 +0000102453 at http://wilderness.orghttp://wilderness.org/resource/idaho-court-decision-blm-domestic-sheep-grazing#commentsDust Storms Escalate, Prompting Environmental Fearshttp://wilderness.org/recent-coverage/dust-storms-escalate-prompting-environmental-fears
<div class="field-group-format group_meta field-group-div group-meta speed-fast effect-none"><div class="field field-name-field-date-published field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2009-04-23T11:05:26-04:00">Apr 23, 2009</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-link field-type-link-field field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/22/AR2009042203685.html" target="_blank">Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post</a></div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>Excerpts:</p>
<p>The scene Landry witnessed that day was the most severe example of a phenomenon that has overtaken parts of the West this year, one that could exacerbate a slew of environmental problems there in the years to come. The Colorado Rockies, including the headwaters of the Colorado River and the Rio Grande, have experienced 11 serious dust storms this year, a record for the six years researchers have been tracking them.</p>
<p>More important, an increasing amount of airborne dust is blanketing the region, affecting how fast the snowpack melts, when local plants bloom and what quality of air residents are breathing.</p>
<p>The dust storms are a harbinger of a broader phenomenon, researchers say, as global warming translates into less precipitation and a population boom intensifies the activities that are disturbing the dust in the first place. Jayne Belnap, a research ecologist at the U.S. Geological Survey who has studied the issue, predicts that by midcentury, the fragility of the region's soil &quot;will be equal to that of the Dust Bowl days.&quot;</p>
<p>&hellip;Dust storms are not new in the West, but the fact that so much dust is on the move reflects that across vast areas, soil is being loosened by off-road vehicles, livestock grazing, and road development for oil and gas production, much of it on public land. A Washington Post analysis of federal data from areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management found that between 2004 and 2008, off-road vehicle use rose 19 percent, the number of oil and gas wells increased 24 percent and grazing acreage climbed 7 percent.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div></div></div>Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:05:26 +0000101861 at http://wilderness.orghttp://wilderness.org/recent-coverage/dust-storms-escalate-prompting-environmental-fears#commentsLand grab masked as a national security measure passes U.S. House of Representativeshttp://wilderness.org/press-release/land-grab-masked-national-security-measure-passes-us-house-representatives
<div class="field-group-format group_meta field-group-div group-meta speed-fast effect-none"><div class="field field-name-field-release-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2012-06-19T01:00:00-04:00">Jun 19, 2012</span></div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <h3>
Anti-wilderness package also allows logging in California roadless areas, clear-cutting of old growth forests in Alaska and virtually rent-free grazing on public lands</h3>
<p>
Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed a package of anti-wilderness bills (H.R. 2578), including H.R. 1505, the &ldquo;<a href="http://wilderness.org/content/hr-1505-updated-april-2012" target="_blank">National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act</a>.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p> H.R. 1505 would hand over &ldquo;operational control&rdquo; of federal public lands within 100 miles of the Canadian and Mexican borders to the U.S. border patrol, and could open national parks, wildlife refuges, wilderness and other public lands to development, such as construction and road building. Rep. Raul Grijalva&rsquo;s (D, AZ-7) amendment to strike H.R. 1505 from the package was unfortunately defeated. This package of bills now awaits movement in the Senate.</p>
<p> Prior to the House vote, a coalition of Hispanic and immigration reform advocates, Native American tribal organizations, sportsmen, businesses and conservation groups, <a href="/sites/default/files/legacy/Coalition-Letter-HR1505.pdf" target="_blank">sent a letter</a> to members of Congress voicing their opposition and asking members to vote against the bill.</p>
<p> &ldquo;H.R. 1505 is an overreach that would adversely affect everyone who enjoys America&rsquo;s public lands,&rdquo; said <a href="http://wilderness.org/about-us/experts/david-moulton" target="_blank">David Moulton, senior legislative director at The Wilderness Society</a>. &ldquo;The bill would allow road building, construction and development on lands that are loved for hunting, fishing, hiking and other recreational activities. This vote was not in the best interest of the people who enjoy the land for its natural beauty.&rdquo;</p>
<p> H.R. 1505 is part of an anti-wilderness package that includes, among other destructive bills:</p>
<p> &bull; <a href="http://wilderness.org/content/sealaska-bill-step-backward-southeast-alaska" target="_blank">The Sealaska bill</a> would give away tens of thousands of acres of high-value public land from the Tongass National Forest to the Sealaska Corporation. This would allow the corporation to clear-cut valuable forest land and take ownership of the best recreation sites at the heads of bays or mouths of salmon streams. This land giveaway would effectively prevent a long-planned transition out of old growth logging on the national forest, and privatize prime recreation spots that are currently open to the American public for fishing, hunting, and recreation and are relied upon by many small tourism, outfitter and fisheries businesses.</p>
<p>
&bull; Title XI, the &ldquo;<a href="http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr4234" target="_blank">Grazing Improvement Act</a>,&rdquo; is a virtual giveaway of over 247 million acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and National Forest rangelands to the approximately 27,000 livestock producers who have grazing privileges on the lands managed by these two agencies. The bill would change the term of federal livestock grazing leases from the current ten years to 20 years.&nbsp; No other government entity in the U.S. issues 20-year livestock grazing permits.&nbsp;&nbsp; In addition, Title XI reduces the level of environmental scrutiny of livestock grazing practices on BLM and National Forest lands by allowing these agencies to exempt the issuance of grazing permits from National Environmental Policy Act review.</p>
<p>
&bull; <a href="http://www.sierraforestlegacy.org/FC_ProjectsPlans/PR_QLG.php" target="_blank">The Quincy Library Group bill</a> would take an unsuccessful and outmoded forest management pilot program and expand it across much of northern California, while simultaneously authorizing logging in roadless areas, spotted owl habitat, salmon habitat and other areas of critical environmental importance and mandating minimum annual timber cuts.&nbsp;</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.micevhill.com/attachments/immigration_documents/hosted_documents/112th_congress/TranscriptOfSenateAppropriationsHearingOnFY13DHSAppropriations.pdf" target="_blank">Opposed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)</a>, H.R. 1505 could endanger personal freedoms by closing without notice our lands to hunting, fishing, tourism and recreation, all multi-million dollar industries that support small businesses.&nbsp; DHS Secretary Napolitano testified before Congress in opposition to H.R. 1505, saying it &quot;is unnecessary, and it&rsquo;s bad policy.&quot; DHS benefits from their close collaboration with law enforcement counterparts in the land management agencies. In addition to threatening lands, the bill threatens this collaboration.</p>
<p>
H.R. 1505 is an extreme and radical measure that would put at risk 49 million acres of public lands in 17 states, sweeping away 16 bedrock environmental and land management laws in Joshua Tree National Park, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Acadia National Park and any other protected land that sits within 100 miles of the border.</p>
<p> The Wilderness Society recently updated the report, &ldquo;<a href="http://wilderness.org/content/wilderness-under-siege-act-now-stop-attacks" target="_blank">Wilderness Under Siege</a>,&rdquo; to reflect the movement of these and other bills and what they would mean to America&rsquo;s lands, waters and natural legacy. Also mentioned in the report is <a href="http://wilderness.org/content/motorize-wilderness-act" target="_blank">H.R. 4089</a> -- a Trojan horse bill that includes a sneak attack on wilderness. H.R. 4089 <a href="http://wilderness.org/content/trojan-horse-passes-house" target="_blank">recently passed the House</a>, and awaits passage in the Senate.&nbsp;</p>
<p> The bills profiled in &ldquo;Wilderness Under Siege&rdquo; are out of touch with the American people&rsquo;s conservation values.</p>
<p> To view Wilderness Under Siege, please visit: <a href="http://wilderness.org/content/wilderness-under-siege-act-now-stop-attacks-updated-april-2012" target="_blank">http://wilderness.org/content/wilderness-under-siege-act-now-stop-attacks-updated-april-2012</a></p>
</div></div></div>Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:02:15 +0000106869 at http://wilderness.orghttp://wilderness.org/press-release/land-grab-masked-national-security-measure-passes-us-house-representatives#commentsSouth Dakota Leaders Highlight Opportunities Presented by America’s Great Outdoors Initiativehttp://wilderness.org/press-release/south-dakota-leaders-highlight-opportunities-presented-america%E2%80%99s-great-outdoors
<div class="field-group-format group_meta field-group-div group-meta speed-fast effect-none"><div class="field field-name-field-release-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2010-09-01T01:00:00-04:00">Sep 1, 2010</span></div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p><strong>(Pierre &ndash; September 1, 2010)</strong> The Obama administration&rsquo;s America&rsquo;s Great Outdoors initiative came to South Dakota today in an effort to develop a conservation agenda for the 21st century. Conservation leaders from across South Dakota attended the listening session to contribute their ideas to help shape the initiative aimed at getting kids outside and safeguarding our natural heritage.</p>
<p>Earlier this year, Senator Johnson introduced the Tony Dean Cheyenne River Valley Conservation Act, a bill to protect 48,000 acres of land in the Buffalo Gap National Grassland as wilderness. This historic legislation will establish the very first national grasslands wilderness in the nation, and is supported by business owners, teachers, hunters, veterans, conservationists, and outdoor recreationists. Under wilderness designation, established grazing has the highest level of protection of any public land management status, ensuring ranchers&rsquo; continued way of life.</p>
<p><em>&ldquo;We need to cultivate a new generation of public land stewards if we want to ensure that our open spaces stay as they are. Wilderness areas are a vital part of our natural heritage, and if young people don&rsquo;t have the opportunity to experience this gift, they won&rsquo;t value it,&rdquo; said <a href="http://www.sdwildgrassland.org/" target="_blank">Cheryl Warren with the South Dakota Wild Grassland Coalition</a>. &ldquo;The administration&rsquo;s initiative has helped raise the profile of this important legacy, and I hope will mobilize more folks to join the effort to permanently protect this shared land.&rdquo;<br /></em><br /><em>&ldquo;Our as-yet undeveloped prairie grasslands are one of the very best places to enjoy the hunting experience,&rdquo; said <a href="http://www.sdwf.org/" target="_blank">Chris Hesla, executive director of the South Dakota Wildlife Federation</a>. &ldquo;America&rsquo;s Great Outdoors initiative recognizes the importance of conserving some of these special wild places so our children and theirs can get out and take part in this tradition. That&rsquo;s why the South Dakota Wildlife Federation supports legislation to protect a part of our grasslands as wilderness.&rdquo;</em></p>
<p>Currently there are over 650 private landowners who&rsquo;ve indicated interest in protecting nearly 300,000 acres of native grasslands and wetlands through the Fish and Wildlife Service&rsquo;s grassland easement program, with the only limitation being additional funding needed to meet this demand.</p>
<p><em>&ldquo;Ducks Unlimited is hopeful that the administration will recognize the exceptional opportunity that exists to perpetually protect native prairie in the Dakota&rsquo;s for migratory birds, ranchers and future generations,&rdquo; said <a href="http://www.ducks.org/" target="_blank">Scott Stephens, director of conservation planning for Ducks Unlimited</a>.</em></p>
<p>Climate change is the most serious threat our natural heritage has ever faced. Its effects are already being felt on even our most pristine landscapes. Land protection will provide resilient wildlife habitat as an adaptive measure to climate change. </p>
<p><em>&ldquo;Protecting South Dakota&rsquo;s prairie grasslands from the effects of climate change will ensure that our cultural and natural heritage gets passed down to future generations,&rdquo; said <a href="http://southdakota.sierraclub.org/" target="_blank">Jim Margadant, regional conservation organizer for the South Dakota Chapter of the Sierra Club</a>. </em><br />&nbsp;</p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:00:00 +0000103509 at http://wilderness.orghttp://wilderness.org/press-release/south-dakota-leaders-highlight-opportunities-presented-america%E2%80%99s-great-outdoors#commentsJudge Grants Motion to Restrict Grazing That Puts Bighorn Sheep at Riskhttp://wilderness.org/press-release/judge-grants-motion-restrict-grazing-puts-bighorn-sheep-risk
<div class="field-group-format group_meta field-group-div group-meta speed-fast effect-none"><div class="field field-name-field-release-date field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single" property="dc:date" datatype="xsd:dateTime" content="2009-10-15T01:00:00-04:00">Oct 15, 2009</span></div></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p><strong>BOISE</strong> - One of the last remaining Bureau of Land Management (BLM) sheep grazing allotments in the Salmon River corridor was halted yesterday when U.S. District Court Judge Lynn Winmill granted a motion to restrict grazing that puts Bighorn Sheep at risk. The Wilderness Society and our legal partners at The Western Watershed Project and the Hell&rsquo;s Canyon Preservation Council filed the motion in hopes of ending domestic sheep grazing on Partridge Creek Allotment where one of the highest threat to bighorn sheep exists. This ruling will effectively end public lands grazing in one of the areas of most concern for bighorn populations.</p>
<p>In recent year, TWS and our partners won successful suits on adjacent Forest Service land to halt domestic sheep grazing because of the conflict between domestic and bighorn sheep. Despite dramatic population declines to Idaho&rsquo;s remaining wild sheep populations, what were once the most prevalent big game species in the state, the BLM has refused to take corrective action to prevent extirpation of bighorns. For the first time since the 1930&rsquo;s, domestic sheep will not graze on the Partridge Creek Allotment.</p>
<p>Judge Winmill&rsquo;s order will be in place until at least Nov. 2, when he plans another hearing.</p>
<p><a href="idaho-court-decision-blm-domestic-sheep-grazing">View the judge&rsquo;s order.</a></p>
<hr />
<h3>Statement of Brad Brooks, Regional Conservation Associate in Boise, Idaho</h3>
<p>&ldquo;This ruling represents an affirmation that wild sheep should not be sacrificed for the benefit of a few individuals,&rdquo; said Brooks. &ldquo;The judge&rsquo;s ruling makes it clear that nobody should be allowed to exploit public resources for their own self interest at the expense of the public.</p>
<p>The entire population of bighorn sheep was at risk here. The 2009 Idaho Legislature attempted to take action to prevent further harm to the bighorn, but legislation simply wasn&rsquo;t strong enough to prevent agreements that still put the population in danger.</p>
<p>All Idahoans, from hunters to hikers to wildlife watchers, value bighorn sheep, and this ruling truly is a victory for the public.&rdquo;</p>
</div></div></div>Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:25:58 +0000102454 at http://wilderness.orghttp://wilderness.org/press-release/judge-grants-motion-restrict-grazing-puts-bighorn-sheep-risk#comments